Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper examines the viability of a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia following a UN Security Council vote in December 2007. It analyzes the instability caused by the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts, the role of Ethiopian military intervention, and the challenges of assembling an African Union-led force. The author specifically evaluates South Africa's capacity and willingness to contribute troops, concluding that South Africa has opted out due to existing commitments and the high risk of failure in a country without a formal ceasefire.

This research paper argues that Africa is vulnerable to global Islamist terrorism and that the African Union (AU) has failed to implement its counter-terrorism frameworks. The author highlights the underfunding and understaffing of the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism in Algiers and proposes a practical, incremental strategy for building capacity based on the specific strengths of key states and regional organisations.

This document is an opening address delivered by Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 31 October 2007. The speech outlines the ISS's regional security initiatives across Africa and discusses the challenges of policing, crime statistics, and security preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The document contains the minutes of the 23rd Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 9-10, 2006, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on strategic institutional expansion, the transition between the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) I and II programs, financial status, and the scientific reorientation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to better integrate human dimensions and policy relevance.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is a regional human security policy thinktank focused exclusively on Africa, aiming to support policy formulation and decision-making to enhance human security across the continent.

This research paper examines the 'Goldenberg' scandal, a high-level financial conspiracy in Kenya between 1990 and 1993 involving senior officials of the Daniel Arap Moi administration and private wheeler-dealers. The scheme exploited government incentives for non-traditional exports and foreign exchange controls to siphon hundreds of millions of dollars from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), contributing to severe economic instability and inflation.

This research paper provides an overview of the progress made toward establishing the African Standby Force (ASF) as of May 2005. It details the continental policy framework adopted by the African Union (AU) and examines the specific implementation efforts, capabilities, and challenges within three regional bodies: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The document highlights significant gaps between policy aspirations and operational capacity, primarily driven by funding shortages and limited national military capabilities.

This briefing reports on an interview conducted on May 1, 2003, with Al-Sadig al-Mahdi, leader of the opposition Umma Party in Sudan. Al-Mahdi discusses the limitations of the IGAD-facilitated peace talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/A, arguing that a sustainable peace requires a more inclusive process involving 'new forces' and a transition to democratic elections.

This research paper provides an overview of money laundering threats within the East and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) region. It examines the strategic importance of laundering for organised crime and corruption, identifies common typologies (internal, incoming, and outgoing), and details specific predicate crimes such as drug trafficking, armed robbery, and currency speculation. The document also analyzes the region's vulnerability as a destination for illicit funds due to offshore financial regimes and regulatory weaknesses.

This 2003 fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International examines the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in providing development loans, particularly to Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. It argues that while the EIB is a central financial institution for the EU's relations with developing nations, it lacks a formal development strategy and fails to integrate sustainable development or poverty eradication goals into its project evaluations, which remain focused on economic and technical criteria.

This research paper presents the results of a June-July 2001 survey of 1,831 residents, businesspeople, and households in Nairobi to assess firearm penetration, community attitudes toward security, and the perceived link between crime and weapon ownership.

This IISD briefing note analyzes the results of the negotiations for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which concluded in Montreal in January 2000. The document examines the Protocol's scope, its operationalization of the precautionary principle, its complex relationship with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and the positions of the five major negotiating blocs.

This synthesis report details the Raising Risk Awareness (RRA) project, a pilot initiative designed to build capacity for extreme event attribution (EEA) and sea level rise risk analysis in developing countries. The project focused on Ethiopia, India, Kenya, and Bangladesh to bridge the gap between climate science, communication, and policy-making, helping stakeholders understand the role of human-induced climate change in specific extreme weather events to better manage future risks.

This fact sheet critiques the European Investment Bank's (EIB) role in development, arguing that while it has increased lending to Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries and established new regional offices, it prioritizes economic and technical metrics over sustainable development and poverty eradication. The document calls for the EIB to adopt binding social and environmental safeguards, increase public transparency, and align its practices with international sustainability standards.

This report by EAVCA and Intellecap, supported by FSD Africa and FMO, analyzes the FinTech ecosystem in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia). It identifies key enablers such as high mobile penetration and gaps in traditional financial services, evaluates various FinTech business models—including lending, payments, insurance, and investment management—and examines regional investment trends, funding challenges, and the role of strategic partnerships between banks and mobile network operators.

The Africa Green Bond Toolkit is a practical guide developed by FSD Africa and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assist African capital markets in issuing green bonds according to international standards. It outlines the structural differences between green and vanilla bonds, provides a step-by-step issuance process, and details the requirements for creating a Green Bond Framework. The guide emphasizes the role of external verification and certification to ensure transparency and attract institutional investors to climate-resilient projects across the continent.

This fact sheet describes the activities of Persistent Energy Capital, a venture builder and fund that provides equity and support to green innovators in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its partnership with FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi).

The 'Kit d’Outils d’Obligations Verte Afrique' is a practical guide developed by FSD Africa and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assist African issuers in emitting green bonds. It outlines the structural similarities between green and conventional bonds, while detailing the specific requirements for the allocation of proceeds to environmental projects. The guide provides a comprehensive framework for the issuance process, including the development of a Green Bond Framework, independent verification, and post-issuance reporting, while highlighting successful case studies from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.

This briefing by E-Consult, coordinated by FSD Africa, examines the potential for establishing onshore financial centres in Africa to attract international capital and skilled employees. It evaluates existing hubs like Mauritius and Johannesburg and assesses the prospects for cities such as Nairobi, Kigali, Lagos, and Accra to become globally significant financial centres.

The Youth Enterprise Grants (YEG) pilot project in Mathare, Nairobi, provided approximately $1,200 in grants and smartphones to youth aged 18-35. Findings indicate a significant shift from casual labour to self-employment (37% to 64%) and marked improvements in financial status, with over 75% of recipients reporting income increases. While smartphones proved essential for market access and business skills via social media, specific money management apps like Touch Doh saw low adoption. Mobile money remains the primary tool for financial management, with a strong preference for savings mechanisms that limit immediate liquidity.